Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,858, Micah Goodrich, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Goodrich, Micah
S. 15858
CONTENTS
Carded

83 Berkshire
15269. Massachusetts
Micah Goodrich
Berkshire in the State of Mass who was a Captain in the company commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] & commander of [blank] in the [blank] for 7 mos. Conn. av
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 th day of June 1830 and Genl Henry W Bishop Berke Co
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1830 $46.66 Sem-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep " 11.66
$58.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H McBlain Clerk, Vol. 2 Page 29.

8 0 Micah Goodrich Sandsfield Ms Application for Pension Aug. 15. 1832
17441

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Berkshire, ss.
ON this Sixteenth — day of August A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable WILLIAM P. WALKER, Judge of the Court of Probate, within and for said County of Berkshire, now sitting,
Nicah Goodrich a resident of the town of Adamsfield in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Eighty two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
In the month of July Seventeen hundred seventy six he was drafted at Northfield in the state of Connecticut where he then resided and entered the service of the United States in the company of Connecticut Troops of Militia commanded by Captain Benjamin Wright and he sailed from said Northfield in said July 1776 with said Company for New York in a boat commanded by Captain Isaac Williams and at said New York joined the Regiment commanded by Colonel Salcott and remained at New York was then at the Battle of Flat Bush and the day after the Battle at Flat Bush he crossed with said Company over to Long Island and the next night returned to New York with the Army under the command of General Washington then moved to New York City and from thence he retreated with said Company to Harlem Heights and was at that place at the time of the Engagement and continued to serve in said Company and Regiment for the term of about four months and until said Company was disbanded which was about November 1776 General Washington was at Long Island at the time he crossed to that place and returned to New York the same night there he returned and General Putnam had the Command at the Battle of Harlem Heights he was afterwards drafted at said Northfield where he then resided in the month of July 1777 in the company of Militia of Connecticut Troops commanded by Captain Elias Williams and in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Belden and then entered the service of the United States in said Company and marched in said Company and Regiment to Danbury in Connecticut then to Fishkill Poughkeepsie and up Red Hook in the State of New York and continued to serve in said Company and Regiment and was discharged with said Company in

in the latter part of October or the fore part of November 1777 after serving for the term of three months in said Company. — He has no Documentary Evidence of his service and has no recollection of receiving a written discharge but was discharged with said Companies as near as he can recollect at the time aforesaid and he has the affidavit of John Marsh to prove the aforesaid service which is herunto annexed.
Interrogatories propounded to the applicant by the Court.
1 st When and in what year were you Born?
Answer — I was born in Withersfield in the state of Connecticut 1749.
2 d Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it?
Answer — I know of no record of my age except a record kept by the Rev. Daniel Root formerly a Congregationalist at said Withersfield and now deceased, which record I suppose to be in the possession of the Minister at said Withersfield.
3 d Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
Answer — I lived at Withersfield when called into service of the United States and resided in said Withersfield until I removed to Sandwich Massachusetts where I have resided about forty five years.
4 th How were you called into service, were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute? and if a substitute for whom?
Answer. I was drafted as stated in my application.
5 th State the names of some of the regular officers who were in the troops where you served such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer — I recollect General Washington & General Putnam as stated in my application. I also saw General Green. But do not recollect the names of the officers of Regiments or their numbers so as to state any further circumstances than are stated in my application.
6 th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?
Answer — I have no recollection of receiving a discharge.
7 th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for piety and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution?
Answer — Rev Levi White and Erastus Beach Esq.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Micah Goodrich
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
We Levi White a Clergyman, residing in the Town of Sandisfield and Erastus Beach residing in the same hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Micah Goodrich who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Eighty two years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. and we further certify that the said Micah Goodrich is a person of truth and veracity.
Levi White Erastus Beach
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories, prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Levi White who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Sandisfield in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that Erastus Beach who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Sandisfield in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
William P. Walker J. Probate
I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Micah Goodrich for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office of said Court of Probate, this fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Henry W. Bishop Register of Probate.

I John Marsh of Wethersfield in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged Seventy eight years do depose and say that I am well acquainted with Micah Goodrich of Sandersfield in the County of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts who is an applicant for a pension under the late act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 and know that he entered the service of the United States during the revolutionary war In the year 1776 on or about the month of July (according to my best recollection) I was drafted at Wethersfield in the State of Connecticut in the Company of Militia commanded by Captain Benjamin Wright our Company sailed for New York from Wethersfield in a vessel commanded by Captain Israel Williams and there joined the regiment commanded by Colonel Talcott I served in said Company and regiment about four months. The above named Micah Goodrich was drafted at the same time and served with me in the said company during the whole term of four months said Company was disbanded about November 1776 I also was drafted at Wethersfield in 1777 about July (as near as I can guess or recollect with the above named Micah Goodrich in Captain Elias Williams Company of militia we were marched to Danbury Fishkill. Peekskill up to Red Hook almost of the British Fleet in the regiment commanded by Col. Belden and were discharged a little below Red Hook as near as I can guess about the month of November 1777 after three months service together in said Company and further the deponent saith not
John Marsh
State of Connecticut } ss Wethersfield County of Hartford }
On this 25 th day of July 1832 before me the subscriber a justice of the peace for the County of Hartford personally appeared John Marsh the signer of the preceding affidavit a person of veracity and made oath to the truth of the same
Henry B. Bulkley Justice of the peace

State of Connecticut p. Hartford County
I, Jared Griswold, Clerk of the County Court for the County of Hartford in the State of Connecticut, do hereby certify, that Henry Bulkley, before whom the within affidavit was taken, was on this day a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Hartford, duly commissioned & qualified according to Law, with full power to take affidavits &c. & that full faith & credit is due to his official acts. And I further certify, that I verily believe the signature of his name, purporting to be his, is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have signed these presents & affixed the seal of said Court this twenty fifth day of July, one thousand, eight hundred & thirty two. Jared Griswold Clerk of Co. Court Hartford Co. Connecticut

17441 Micah Goodrich Mass
Private 7 months Adm
$23.33
Henry M. Bishop County of Berkshire Mass

County  BRIEF in the case of  of Berkshire
Micah Goodrich  in the State of Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 82 yrs  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Deaf In 1776 1777. about 11 3 — private Gen. Washington Capt Albright Col Talbot " Williams " Belden    
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Flat Bush Harlem Heights,  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Methersfield Mass Connecticut  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
O. Clapp  Examining Clerk.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Isaac Goodrich a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     July 1776 4 mos. Pvt. Benjamin Knight Talcott Conn.   July 1777 3 mos. Ebenezer Williams Belden        
Battles engaged in, Harlem Heights Residence of soldier at enlistment, Wethersfield Conn. Date of application for pension, Aug. 13-1822 His el. was al. Residence at date of application, Sandisfield, Berkshire Co. Mass. Age at date of application, born in 1749 at Wethersfield Conn.
Remarks: There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Commissioner of Pensions, Rev Sec Is there a record of a pension being given to Micah Goodrich after the Revolutionary War? His home was at Wethersfield Conn. but he finally settled at Sandisfield Mass.
Or of a pension to Joshua Smith neg. or his widow, whose maiden name was Freelove Kibby? This Joshua Smith died of small pox, contracted in camp, together with one or more sons - and left a family of smaller children - Do not know the organ- ization he belonged to or any fur- ther identification other than his home was in western Conn. in early life and he also settled at Sand- isfield, Mass - Thanking you -
(Mrs.) G W Brenneman
Oct 3. 1918
1113 Webster St Chillicothe Mo.

18 Oct. 14 Hist to Mrs G. H. Bremner
15858 INVALID.
File No. 15858
Micah Goodrich
Pre Civil War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 147
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Elijah Goodrich which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? _____
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Witnesses
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? Yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes
XVI. † Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Answered
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.